Wheel-excavator



(No Model.)

l P. PLUME.

WHEEL EXGAVATOR. No. 357,939. Q Patented Peb. l5, 1887.

i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FAVCETT PLUME, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS.

WH EEL-EXCAVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,939, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed June 15, 1886. Seria' No. 205,945.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known. that I, FAwcE'rr PLUME, of Streator, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 1i/Vhcel-Excavators; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention relates to an improvement in wheelexcavators.

The object is to provide a cutting or excavating wheel with a series of excavatingscoops arranged alternately on opposite sides of its rim, whereby the cutting is made prac tically continuous and the strain evenly distributed on the axle of the wheel, and to further provide a pair of stationary Scrapers adapted to clean the scoops as they reach or approach their greatest elevation.

A further object is to provide a drive-chain which shall work ou the periphery of the cutting-wheel, thereby exerting a draft as nearly as possible in direct opposition to the work.

Vith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of the wheel and drivechain in side elevation in position for work, and Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

A represents a cutting or excavating wheel journaled in a verticallyswinging frame, B, hinged to amain frame (not shown) at Z2. On the sides of the rim of the wheelAare secured short scoops C, with their euttingedges c farther from the center of the wheel than the rear edges, thus giving them a clearance from the soil as soon as the cutting-edge has passed over it. The scoops @conveniently consist of sheets orplates of metal bent into a generally semicylindrical form, and are secured to the rim of the wheel by bolts c. The front or cutting 'edge of the scoop is bolted to the rim without play, but is allowed to rock on the boltnvhile the bolt which secures the rear end extends through an elongated slot, c2, in the scoop, which admits of the rear end of the scoop swinging away from and toward the center ot' the wheel. By this constructiona rigid scraper :may be employed which shall fit closely the (No model.)

interior of the scraper at its front edge, and as the scoop moves along over the scraper its rear end will gradually swing outwardly, and the scraper will follow along in engagement with the interior of the scoop, thoroughly cleaning it. Itis obvious that the scoop will readj ust itself to the inclined `position as soon as the cutting-edge engages the earth.

The scoops are arranged in two series-one series'on each side of the rim-and the distance between two successive scoops on the same side is preferably somewhat less than the length of a scoop. They are further arranged in such a manner that each scoop on one side of the rim corresponds to or is located opposite a blank space on the opposite side ofthe rim, after the manner of saw-teeth. Thus, if the wheel in its progress along the ditch comes in contact with a harder layer of soil it will be engaged` by only one scoop at rst, and when that is well entered, or possibly through, the following scoop on the op posite side of the wheel will engage therewith. The ditch is thereby cut full width; but at no point in the revolution of the wheel are the two buckets brought suddenly into contact with aharderlayer of soil or other obstruction.

The drive-chain D engages the peripheryof the wheel A between the two series of scoops, and extends around a driving-pinion, d, on the shaftof a wheel, E, driven by the ground or supporting wheels. (Not shown.)

On each side of the wheel A is located-an apron or oblique shelf, F, secured to the side rails of the swinging frame B, and adapted to receive the earth as it falls from the scoops and convey it to the opposite sides ofthe ditch.

To each apron or shelf, or to the side rails of the swinging frame, is iirmly secured a scraper, G, over which the scoops successively pass, preferably just before they reach their greatest elevation, which serves to free the scoops from the earth, which naturally clings thereto.

The scoops are doing their heaviest work as they move from their points of lowest de pression up to the surface of the ground, and it will be observed that the drive-chain during the greater portion of this movement of the scoops is drawing in the direct line of re sistance, or nearly so.

The rim of the wheel A, a short distance toward the center from where the scoops are attached, is widened, the faces of the widened portions being oblique, as shown at H, and serving to assist in retaining lthe cut soil in positionon the scoop until removed by the scraper.

The supporting-frame,in which the frame B is journaled, may be of any well-known or approved fo'rm, that shown in Letters Patent No. 244,400, granted to me on the 19th day of July, 1881, being a very convenient and efficient form.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the construction herein set forth; but, v y

Having fully descri bed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, :is-l

l. In an eXcavating-wheel,the combination, with a swinging frame, an excavating-wheel journaled thereon, and a drive-chain passing around theperipheryofsaid excavating-wheel, of a series of scoops, each pivoted at or near one end to the wheel, and rigid stops secured to the wheel and engaging the buckets at or near their other ends, for the purpose of limiting the tilting movement of said buckets, substantially as set forth.

2. In a wheel-excavator, the combination, with an excavating-wheel with a series of scoops yrigidly secured to its rim and driven by a chain on its periphery, of a stationary scraper secured to the wheel-frame and adapted to remove the soil from within the scoops as they pass over the same, substantially as set forth.

p3. In a wheeliexcavator, the combination, with a cutting-wheel having scoops secured to its rim after the manner of saw -teeth and driven by a chain on its periphery between the series of scoops, of an apron or shelf and stationary Scrapers secured to the wheel frame or' shelf and adapted to remove the earth from the scoops, substantially as set forth.

. 4. The combination, with the cutting-wheel with the scoops arranged substantially as set forth and having a widened bevel faced rim portion, of the drive-chain adapted to engage the periphery of the wheel between the series of scoops, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination,with the cutting-wheel journaled in a vertically-swinging frame and provided with the scoops having their cutting-edges farther from the center of the wheel thantheir rear edges, of the drive-chain on the periphery of the wheel, the apron, and the scraper, substantially as set forth.

6. In a Wheel-excavator, the combination,

with a rigid scraper, of a scoop secured to the rim of a Wheel in a limited rocking adjustment,whereby the scraper is enabled to closely engage the interior of the scoop throughout its entire length, substantially as 'set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the'presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FAWCETT. PLUME. 

